Prayer Request 8/29 -- 9/4

Tuesday
In terms of casualties and property loss from natural disasters, China is having its worst year of this century. Repeated severe typhoons have caused havoc in the southern provinces. Beijing has demanded that local officials not cover over or report less than full damage. This summer, poor weather has impeded training work and retreats in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Hunan during the time that traditionally many church activities take place. Let us lift up all the churches in the South of China in our prayers, especially those affected by typhoons .

Wednesday
Is feng shui an ancient Chinese architectural art or mere superstition? Last year Nanjing University's attempt to have a training program with a certificate raised a fierce debate and was quickly shut down. In reality consultation with a feng shui master to ensure a better financial return is a common practice. Let us pray for all believers who foolishly dabble with such practices and for strong Biblical teaching in the churches against it .

Thursday
A shortage of qualified teachers in rural counties of China is a universal problem. Hubei started a program which attracted 1335 college graduates to teach in the most remote villages. Many of them became their much-needed English teachers. This injection of new blood has drawn praise from both students and parents. Rural churches face the same problems but few have answered the call to serve there. Let us pray for vision and burden for all of those who are in training and are returning to villages to serve the Lord .

Friday
In 1970 a typical urban male made about forty-two yuan monthly. In 1990 he made four hundred yuan and received free medical care. Later he switched to a joint venture company and now makes one thousand yuan each month. While many have enjoyed an increase in wages, church workers lag far behind. The spouses of church workers must work to supplement their income. Let us remember all who are contemplating leaving the ministry for better pay and pray for those who continue to serve that will be faithful .

Saturday
"A yi", live in housekeeper or nannies are common in China. Young ladies or girls from villages are often hired for house help. When the employers are fair and protective, these jobs are desirable. In larger cities, believers who employ these "a yi" have organized Bible studies for them. There are similar groups for drivers (personal chauffers) too. Let us pray for all who are part of this ministry and ask the Lord use their employers to show the love of God .

Sunday
In northeastern China in Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia, there are 1.92 million Chinese who are ethnically Korean. As an ethnic minority, they receive education in both Chinese and Korean. Many of them have become Christians, gone to seminary, and now serve in churches in these regions. Let us pray especially for the large number of Christians among the Chinese-Koreans as well as their missionary efforts and training programs .

Monday
Large numbers of Koreans can be found living in their own "Korea Town" in Beijing, Qingdao, Dalian, Shenyang, Tianjin, Yantai, and Shanghai. There are many Korean house churches in these neighborhoods which Chinese nationals also attend. We praise the Lord for the substantial assistance Korean churches provide for Chinese churches. We pray for the growth of churches directly and indirectly supported by Korean missionaries and churches .

星期二
今年天然災害在中國造成的人命傷亡和財物損失是本世紀來最嚴重的一年。強烈颱風頻頻登陸，使南部省份遭受到極大的破壞。北京當局已下令地方官員必須據實上報所有災情，不得隱瞞或虛報。今夏惡劣的天氣也阻礙了兩廣、湘、閩一帶許多教會例行的夏季訓練和退修活動。讓我們求神托住中國南部這些教會，尤其為遭受颱風損害的教會來禱告。

星期三
風水是中國古老的建築藝術智慧或純屬迷信？去年南京大學企圖開辦一個提供證書的風水訓練課程，結果因所引發的劇烈抗辯而迅速被關閉。在現實生活中，人們請教風水師傅以確保得到更好的經濟回報，幾乎已是例行公事。讓我們為所有無知涉足風水的信徒禱告，求神讓教會能教導更紮實的聖經真理來抵擋風水之說的影響。

星期四
中國農村師資的短缺已是普遍的問題。湖北省近來發起一項計劃吸引了1,335名大學畢業生到偏遠鄉村執教，其中很多成為當地最需要的英文教師。這些注入教育界的新血輪，贏得了學生和家長熱烈的掌聲。反觀鄉村教會，同樣面臨人手不足的困境，但願意囘應呼召，到農村事奉的人卻寥寥可數。我們求神堅固正受裝備、將來要返鄉服事主的奉獻者的異象和負擔，也呼召更多人來響應鄉村服事。

星期五
1970年一個典型都市男性每月大約掙得42元人民幣。1990年他的收入可達400元外加免費醫療。若隨後加入聯營公司，如今月薪會上千圓。正當許多人享受著加薪的喜悅時，教會同工卻被遠遠抛在後頭，而配偶還必須出外工作來支撐家庭的經濟需要。讓我們爲因更好的薪酬而動念離開宣教崗位的人禱告，求神補足他們生活的需要之外，也賜更大的信心能繼續忠心服事。

星期六
在中國聘請“阿姨”，即住家保姆非常普遍。許多年輕的鄉村姑娘都受聘當小保姆。若雇主通情達理，對她們而言倒也是一份不錯的工作。有些在大城市的信徒，為家裏聘請的保姆開辦讀經小組，也有專為家庭司機而設的類似小組。讓我們為所有參加的雇員們禱告，也求神讓他們的雇主都能向他們彰顯神的愛。

星期日
在中國東北地區，包括黑龍江，遼寧，和内蒙古等地，有192萬多的朝鮮族人。一般這些少數民族都同時兼受中國和朝鮮教育。其中很多已成爲基督徒接受神學院造就，現在該地區的教會中服事。讓我們為這群人數頗衆的朝鮮裔中國信徒禱告，求神記念他們的付出與努力，特別拓展他們的宣教事工和訓練計劃。

星期一
越來越多的韓國人聚居在北京，青島，大連，瀋陽，天津，煙臺，和上海等城市裡，形成自己的“韓國村”。由於韓國基督徒人數衆多，所以當地社區有許多韓國家庭開放成爲教會，也有中國人來參加他們的崇拜活動。這些韓國教會提供給中國教會極重要的協助，我們要爲此讚美神。也求神直接或間接地透過這些「韓援」使中國教會能更茁壯成長。